What's New at Men's Cuts?

While it may be hard to believe, men have bad hair days too. Although they don't usually complain about their hair, they may notice that they are unable to comb and style it the way they want. Most men care about the way they look, and like many women, their hair can define their looks. The type of men's cut must suit the shape and size of a man's face. There are several men's haircuts that can make a man look years younger. Styles can be short, long or mid-length. However, shorter hairstyles seem to be the most popular for men from all walks of life. Some of the more popular cuts that make men look younger include:

Buzz Cut

The buzz cut is a very close-to-the-scalp cut and is very popular with law enforcement and military personnel. It is easy to maintain and gives men a fresh look.

Julius Caesar

The Julius Caesar haircut is another popular hairstyle for men. Celebrities, such as Russell Crowe, have sported this haircut. It gives men a charming, boyish look.

Businessman Style

The businessman haircut is a popular cut which features tapered hair on the sides and back with longer hair on top. Men will typically use a gel or mousse to style their hair and create a unique look with this men's cut.

In order to maintain a younger look, a man will need to keep his haircut current. For those with thinning hair, short haircuts, like the ones previously mentioned, are a great choice because the shortness of the hair will make the thinning less noticeable.

A Note on Barbers vs. Hair Stylists

The best way to maintain a current hairstyle is to visit a stylist. Many men get a quick cut at the barbershop so you may wonder, what is the difference between a stylist and a barber when it comes to men's haircuts.

A barber is trained in giving short haircuts that are easy to maintain and do not require styling products. If you want a basic, classic cut then you may want to visit a barber vs hair stylist. However, if you want to keep up with the latest styles and receive a trendy haircut, then a hair stylist is the number one choice. A hair stylist will identify the proper cut for your face that is most flattering. If your hair requires a significant amount of maintenance or you need styling products, your hair stylist will be there to guide you through what is needed to ensure you look your best. A stylist can also add color to your hair if desired. This service is not provided by a barber.

Since hair is the first thing people usually notice, it is no surprise that most individuals, including men, want to maintain a trendy cut and always look his best. The right men's haircut can take years off his age and make him more attractive. If you're a man who's looking for a stylish cut, visit www.menscutslakewood.com to find out more and schedule your appointment.

Do the stray hairs on your ears, brows and T-shirt collar bug you? You know when the fuzz just pops out of the t-shirt color. Most men are embarrassed by the hair on the back of their neck. Well, look no further. We are here to help. Did you know wax services for men are the norm today? Women are not the only one's who get their facial hair waxed and removed. At Men's Cuts, we provide services from the neck collar up. Most recently we attended a class about Cirepil wax. Can I tell you after our 4 hour, hands-on class, I fell in love with the product. The only way to know a product is to actually experience it on yourself. Anna was equally excited to try the product. She prepped my upper lip and then applied the wax & minutes later lifted the wax off. The results were spectacular. I was not red and it did not hurt. The finest of hairs were lifted and gone. I was so amazed. After seeing these results, I was convinced that Cirepil is the best wax product for our male clients. After all, our men deserve the best. So you are reading this and wondering what stray hairs? Go ahead and grab a mirror and look closely at your face. Men often get stray hairs on the cheeks, some men get fuzzy hair on the perimeter of the ear. Also take a look at your brows. The stray hairs above and below the main brow & between the brows (unibrow). Finally, strays in the area of neckline. The benefit is when you remove all the distracting, stray hairs you look cleaner.This enhances your appearance.

I have been in the business for over 20 years and have tried other wax products by other manufacturers, Cirepil, hands down is the winner. Since we love the product so much for men, for the month of June, July and August, Men's Cuts will be offering complimentary brow, ear and neck to T-shirt collar line waxing services. We only services from the neckline and above. Ceripil changed my perception of wax and my hope is it will change yours too. So, book now at www.menscutslakewood.com and get groomed with us.

The concept of acupuncture has always intrigued (and confused) me. It follows such a different philosophy than that of typical Western medicine and adds an almost spiritual element to healing. How could simply sticking dozens of hair-thin needles into your body act as a true medical substitute for surgery or painkillers or even mental illness? That doesn’t make sense, right? Well, the truth is, acupuncture is a completely legitimate medical practice and is actually being used by many world class performers every day. If world class performers are using it and are, well, world class performers – I should probably be using it.

Technically speaking, acupuncture aims to correct the “imbalances of energy in the body”. I know what you’re thinking and I had the same thought: what does that even mean? Since acupuncture is a deeply rooted Chinese tradition and practice, it is used to modify and enhance the flow of energy (known is the Chinese culture as chi) throughout the body giving you strength, energy and a clear head. Although there is no scientific data to back something like this up, it is an interesting concept none-the-less.

One of the most fascinating aspects of acupuncture is how many different illnesses or complications it can help cure. Whether you are experiencing mental pain such as anxiety or depression, or digestive trouble, or even migraines or Parkinson’s disease, acupuncture can be a terrific tool for you. In fact, many professional sports teams have begun using this form of medicine as alternatives to practices with longer recovery time.

Imagine being an MLB pitcher and you start experiencing elbow pain after a few games with high pitch counts. You have a few options: you can rest for a few weeks and only throw at 70% during practice, you can consider surgery with a couple months of rehab, or you can immediately see an acupuncture doctor for 2 or 3 weeks with immediate results. It just makes sense. Many teams now have acupuncture doctors travel with the team and be ready on site for any player who may be experiencing pain. Two top advocates of acupuncture you may have heard of include Kobe Bryant and Aaron Rodgers. Two of the greatest athletes of all time for their respective sports and they swear by acupuncture. Sandra Bullock and Robert Downey Jr. also both insist acupuncture has impacted many areas of their life.

So how can acupuncture help you, a normal, not-professional athlete? Acupuncture can be great for common pains or annoyances that we everyday men experience. Acupuncture has been a proven solution for skin care, stomach pain, over-anxious nerves, headaches, stress, and even infertility. A typical visit takes about one hour and is no more expensive than a massage. The Cleveland Clinic has finally picked up holistic medicine over the past 4 years, although it has taken them over 20 years to include acupuncture in their umbrella of services.

I’m on the road a lot, so podcasts have become a big part of my daily life. The coolest thing about podcasts is, just like most forms of entertainment these days, there is a podcast for every topic and every guy. Whether you’re looking for self-growth, sports talk, health and fitness tips, or anything in between, there’s probably 10-15 podcasts right up your alley. With thousands of podcasts out there, it can be a bit overwhelming. Below are the top five podcasts I’ve been listening to. Come them out and let me know what you think!

The Tim Ferriss Show

If you aren’t familiar with who Tim Ferriss is, I highly suggest checking him out. You could basically call Tim a “life-hacker”, however I would probably steer more towards a “life-optimizer”. In his self-named podcast, Tim interviews world-class performers in everything from business to sports to entertainment, and everything in between. Some of the guests tend to be really well known, such as Ed Norton or Tony Robbins, while others are very behind-the-scenes unknown. Throughout the course of anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, Tim picks the brain of his guest, dissecting tactics, tools or habits these performers use that make them so successful. Honestly, I walk away from each podcast feeling motivated and ready to tackle just about anything.

Freakanomics Radio

Freakanomics is just phenomenal. Have you ever heard the phrase “explain this to me like I’m 5”? Well, this podcast is essentially that. For starters, if you haven’t seen the Freakanomics movie, stop what you’re doing and go watch it right now. For those who have seen the documentary, you’re going to love their podcast. Continuing with the refreshing, pop culture rapport, the Freakanomics team explores the riddles of everyday life and the strange, yet intriguing, habits of human nature. Throughout the podcasts, the hosts will bring in some of the most intelligent, yet relatable guests to help compliment that week’s topic.

Serial

We all have the TV series that we love. You know, the one you spent 48 straight hours binge watching, only getting off the couch to use the bathroom or pay the take-out Chinese delivery driver. We’ve all been there… right…? Well, consider Serial the Breaking Bad or the Game of Thrones of podcasts, except true. Throughout the entirety of a season, Serial’s host Sarah Koenig tells one true story Each week a new episode is release and leaves on the edge of your seat by the end of it. Lucky for you, two seasons of Serial are completely out and available to listen to here. Binge 4 full work days away with these captivating stories, but fair warning: don’t expect to get much work done. Or, be a responsible adult and listen to one or two episodes during your daily commutes (this option is way less fun).

99% Invisible

Big date tonight with someone way out of your league, and need to get cultured – fast? Need a few talking points other than how nice the weather is? Well, 99% Invisible is right for you. Centered around architecture and design, 99PI (lingo for 99% Invisible) basically takes a look at the thought that goes into everything we never think about. From the origin of the fortune cookie to how the space race is affecting archaeologists, 99PI notices the unnoticed. Most episodes are between 20 and 40 minutes long, making it easy to learn enough about 2 or 3 topics to talk about it on that big date tonight.

The Bill Simmons Podcast (The Ringer)

You may remember Bill Simmons from his time on ESPN. He was pretty great on ESPN, I thought. Well, Bill now runs his own podcast and he’s so much better now. Why? Well when Bill was with ESPN, he was restricted on what he could say and who he could criticize due to ESPN’s corporate interest. Now, Bill has gone rogue and tackles every sport and every league and shows how easy it is to be a sports commentator and still be a fan. Bill also moves away from sports and just talks pop culture. Whether you agree with his takes or not, The Bill Simmons Podcast is the ultimate sports guy podcast.

The life of a modern man is complicated and chaotic (sort of). I barely have time to remember to eat, let alone remember to buy groceries. And I most certainly don’t have time or the patience to remember to buy menial products, like razors. In fact, ever since I’ve been shaving, purchasing razors has been a struggle. Was I paying too much or was I not paying enough? Did the quality of expensive razors outweigh the value of cheap disposable razors? All the while I was having this ongoing internal debate, I had another thought: this is not what I want to be worrying about.

Like most of you, I had seen the viral YouTube video and the commercials for Dollar Shave Club. It sounded like a great concept, but isn’t that what marketing departments are paid to do? Eventually, I decided to give it a go.

Here’s my take:

When you first sign up for DSC, you can your razor from three tiers: “good, better, best”. I read this as: “slightly hairy, moderately hairy, and very hairy”. The “good” tier is a one blade razor called “The Humble Twin”, a classic two blade razor. The “better” tier is called “The 4x”, a, you guessed it, four blade razor, equipped with a 90 degree pivot head. Finally, the “best” tier, called “The Executive”, is an advanced six blade razor with a built in trimmer. Being the baby-faced blonde that I am, I elected to go with the middle tier. Regardless of the tier you choose, your first month is $1. What’s the catch? No catch… yet. For $1, I received the razor handle and 4 blades. I think it’s important to note that each tier has a different handle that is only compatible with the blade you select. So while you get a free handle at first, if you were ever to want to switch to a higher or lower tier razor, you would have to purchase a new handle.

About 8-10 business days, which is longer than I would have hoped, my first DSC delivery arrived. For a company like Dollar Shave Club to truly stand out and make their mark, presentation is crucial… and they nailed it. Inside my package was not only my handle and four blades, but also a free sample size bottle of Dr. Carver’s Shaving Butter and a copy of DSC’s monthly magazine, called The Bathroom Minutes (which is a phenomenal read).

My first shave was basically everything I hoped it would be. I had a close, smooth shave and because I used the Dr. Carver’s shaving butter, my skin felt refreshed and moisturized after. Over the next few weeks, everything seemed to work perfectly. Each blade lasted the allocated week and I was ready with the next blade on deck. My after work bathroom breaks had also become more enjoyable, thanks to The Bathroom Minutes – seriously, a phenomenal publication. It was a perfect month… well, as far as shaving and using the bathroom go…

One of the biggest selling points of DSC is supposed to be the automation. Never having to worry about making sure I was covered on razors and only having to use each blade for seven days is why you join. Unfortunately, this is where I ran into trouble. I received my first box was delivered on February 8th. In an ideal world, I should have gotten my second box on March 8th. But life is not ideal. I received my second box on March 15th. While it’s not the end of the world, I was forced to use my last razor blade for two weeks instead of one. My third box arrived on April 20th. My forth box just arrived this week… May 9th. Yes, I know, this is the ultimate first world problem, but if Dollar Shave Club is going to use constant automation as one of its core differentiating values, at least do it right.

On a more positive note, I did utilize the feature of purchasing other shaving products from DSC to be included in my box. I ended up purchasing a full tub of Dr. Carver’s Shaving Butter and even splurged on the Repair Serum. In my opinion, this is one of the best perks of Dollar Shave Club. They offer a wide variety of great products not only for shaving, but for hair cleaning, hair styling and skin care. Conveniently, I managed to time up my DSC delivery to be about a week after my monthly haircut schedule, so I’m able to get feedback from my Men’s Cut Lakewood stylist about what type of product I should be using, and included it in my DSC box.

Aside from my slight automation trouble, I would say I am very pleased with my time with Dollar Shave Club. I haven’t tried the competitors (Harry’s), and am curious, but for now I’ll stick with DSC. Have experience with subscription based shaving products? Share your thoughts!

After the craziness of the holiday season, it is time to wind down and relax. A great way to do that is to get a massage! According to WebMD, massage has be practiced for as far back at 5000 years ago as treatment in both Egypt and China Today massage therapy is offered at businesses, clinics, hospitals, salons and even airports. There are over 80 different massage therapy types that offer a wide variety of pressures, movements and techniques. Body massages are no longer seen as a luxury item, but seen as a form of treatment and relaxation.

Why Get a Massage?

A massage is considered an alternative medicine, but increasingly it is being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It is an especially good treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension. According to the Mayo Clinic, massages, after more research, could be helpful for many ailments including: anxiety, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, sports injuries, back pain, reduce blood pressure, lessen migraines, reduce symptoms or side effects of cancer and soft tissue strains or injuries. Massage isn’t meant as a replacement for regular medical care, but could be used as a supplemental to treatment.

Types of Massage

A massage is a treatment which involves pressing, rubbing and manipulating skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage can range from lights stroking to deep pressure. There are many types of body massages and different procedures for each one that will depend on what you need a massage for such as relaxation or relief from a health condition. Massages can be customized based on age, condition and any special needs. Massages can last from 10 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the style of massage that you receive. Below is a list of just a few of the most popular types of massages:

Swedish Massage: The Swedish massage is the most popular and most familiar type of body massage. This is a gentler type of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to a customer relax. Swedish massages can be both relaxing and energizing.

Deep Tissue Massage: Deep tissue massage uses slower, more forceful strong to target deeper layers of muscle. This is helpful for those with muscle damage received from injuries.

Neuromuscular Therapy Massage: Neuromuscular therapy massage is a form of soft tissue manipulation that pinpoints the underlying causes of chronic pain involving the muscular and nervous system. This a medically oriented form of massage which addresses trigger points, circulation, nerve compression and postural issues.

Sports Massage: Sports massages are like Swedish massage, but it is targeted towards people involved in sports activities to help prevent, increase flexibility or treat injuries. This type of massage is also helpful after a sports injury.

Shiatsu Massage: Shiatsu massage originated in Japan. For this type of massage, the therapist uses rhythmic pressure on certain acupressure points on the body that are important for the flow of the body’s vital energy or chi.

Thai Massage: Thai massage includes compression of muscles, mobilization of joints and acupressure. The massage therapist uses his or her body to move the client into a variety of positions.

Hot Stone Massage: Hot stone massage involves placing warmed stones on certain areas of the body, such as acupressure points. The stones could be used as massage tools or be temporarily in place. This type of therapy is also used along with other massage techniques.

Benefits of Massage

There are many benefits to receiving a massage from assisting in healing from a sports injury to relaxation. But, mostly a massage produces a feeling of caring comfort and connection. It is a great way to take care of one’s health and well-being. If you do have a medical condition, make sure to consult with your doctor before scheduling a massage. Men’s Cuts offers facial massages and neck massages as one of the many services offered at the salon.

Getting a facial massage is a soothing escape and a perfect pick-me-up any day of the week. There are many benefits to getting a facial massage from relieving tensions to removing toxins from the body. Facial massages are a natural therapy that can also give your face a glow and tone. It gives a relaxing feeling and promotes good circulation to the blood in the face while normalizing moisture balance and increasing radiance.

Facial massages date back centuries. The first written record of any type of massage therapy was in a Chinese medical text dating back to 3rd century B.C. The Greek, Indians and Persians also have references to massage therapy in their early medical literature. The western version of facial massage was innovated in the 20th century, where is first gained popularity in Europe and then moved across the Atlantic to North America. Today, facial massages can by done by stylist, makeup artists and estheticians once they are certified.

The time of a facial massage will vary depending on your skin type. For oily and acne-prone skin, facial massages should be under 10 minutes. If skin is normal to dry, then massages can last up to 20 minutes. Men’s Cuts offers facial massages to our customers as a part of our services.

Benefits of a Facial Massage

If you have sensitive skin, then special care must be taken when having a facial massage. People with sensitive skin can bruise easily and the skin can be damaged and irritated when too much pressure is applied. Find out some of the many great benefits of having a facial massage below:

Stress Reliever: Facial messages decreases anxiety and help to improve negative moods according to a study by the User Science Institute. These massages could also help to reduce everyday stress.

Increasing Circulation: Facial massages help to increase blood and oxygen flow to the face. One of the most important benefits of a facial massage is its anti-aging effect. They can help rejuvenate the skin to make it glow, look and feel refreshed. Massages can help increase muscle tone, strength and tighten the muscles of the face.

Prevent Wrinkles: Every day stress can result in tension buildup in the muscles. When you are under stress, your forehead furrows and there are wrinkle lines that form between the brows and along the lip line. A facial massage will help relax these tight muscles, decreasing the lines as they form.

Detoxification: Massaging the face stimulates lymphatic vessels and facilitates toxin elimination from the facial area. The lymphatic system helps remove toxins from the body through the lymph nodes and bloodstream, where toxins can be eliminated. Muscle movement is needed to move the lymph fluid along. There are many lymph nodes in the facial area, especially along the edge of chin and jawline.

Lessen Dark Circles: Dark circles can occur due to tiredness or lack of sleep, but in truth they appear more as we age. The skin around our eyes loses elasticity and becomes thinner, making the veins under the eyes more prominent. A gentle facial massage concentrating around the eye is a great way to make dark circles less prominent.

Facial Massages and Skin Care

Facial massages allow face products to absorb betting into the skin. At night, apply moisturizer with gentle tapping motions. Ask your Men’s Cuts stylist about the best skin products to help your skin, especially during the upcoming dry winter months. Facial massages are a great part in men’s grooming process. It relaxes and revitalizes all in a short span of time. Book your facial massage with your haircut at Men’s Cuts today!

Do You Use Sunscreen?

Most men don’t think of applying sunscreen when cutting the lawn, working on the garden or attending outdoor sporting events and because of that become sunburnt, which in itself has side effects including itching and scaly skin. Sunscreen is an important tool in keeping our skin protected from the harmful effects of the sun. According to a 2015 Journal of American Academy of Dermatology report, sunscreen isn’t used as much as it should be. In fact, less than 15% of men and 30% of women used sunscreen as recommended, and 42% of men reported never using sunscreen. Nearly 44% of men responded that they never use sunscreen on their faces. The report also found that men living in the Northeast were more likely to regularly use sunscreen on the face than those living in the Midwest or South. Nearly 44% of men responded that they never use sunscreen on their faces. Men and women only used 25% of the recommended amount of sunscreen.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the most preventable risk factor for all types of skin cancer, including melanoma. Melanoma is the third most common cancer in adolescents and young adults with treatment costing of over $3.3 billion each year. People need to make sure to protect themselves from excessive sun exposure and avoid sunburns at any age. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone uses sunscreen labeled as broad spectrum, water resistant and has a sun protector factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. "Broad-spectrum” sunscreen protects against both [ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B] rays, both of which can cause cancer.

Get Protected

Men are reminded every spring and summer about making sure that their skin is protected from the sun. Below are some sun care and sunscreen tips to keep it protected at home or away on vacation.

Get rid of the half-empty bottle of sunscreen from a few years ago. It could be expired and might no longer meet FDA guidelines for UV protection.

Use a sunscreen that will go with your skin type:

Oily Skin-use an alcohol-based product, such as Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock Spray. This can also help to protect the scalp.

Sweaty Skin-Use a solid sports stick, such as Coppertone SPF 55, which will not come off when sweating and will not burn eyes.

Apply sunscreen every two hours as the UV protection in the sunscreen might not last as long as you think. Reapply sunscreen after swimming and any activity that resulted in a lot of sweating.

If using a spray sunscreen, make sure that every area is covered completely. It is harder to tell the sunscreen coverage with a spray as compared to a lotion.

Put on sunscreen before getting dressed for your outside activity to ensure complete coverage. If you smear the sunscreen when getting dressed, go back and reapply where the clothing meets the bare skin-especially at the collar line and sleeve openings.

Do not forget to put sunscreen on the tips of the ears, on top of the feet, eyelids and around the lower lip. These are the areas that normally get forgotten and usually can get burnt first.

Stay out of the sun during its peak time of 10am to 2pm. If you need to be out during this time, make sure that you are protected by sunscreen, wearing 100 % UV-blocking sunglasses, wide brim hat and darker clothing. Darker clothing reflects the sunlight.

If outside in the sun for long periods of time, take a 15-minute shade break for every hour that you are in the sun. If you are at the beach, sit under an umbrella, farther away from the water or seek out shaded or inside areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency provides a UV index which can let you know the UV forecast in your area or where you might be vacationing. The higher the index, the more sunscreen protection you will need.

Don’t forget the scalp! The scalp is often the most overlooked area for sun protection. Make sure to apply sunscreen to the scalp before going out. Some men’s hair products might have a SPF factor, ask your Men’s Cuts stylist for a recommendation.

If you get a sunburnt scalp, avoid styling products with alcohol for a few days to allow the burn to go through the healing process. Style the hair with a soft bristle brush or your fingers to prevent scratching the already tender skin on the scalp.

Because of more activity and more sweat during the summer months, it is recommended to shampoo daily using shampoo and conditioner appropriate for the hair type.

Taking care of your skin through all seasons is very important to keep it hydrated and looking good. Men’s Cuts offers a variety of skin care solutions to use throughout the entire year. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

There are many benefits for starting an exercise program in the New Year. (Or actually any time of the year). We spoke of many of them, from better health to increased brain activity in our last blog post. One benefit of exercise is that it can help improve your work productivity. Exercise can help boost job performance in many ways, including being more productive, being alert at work and getting your tasks completed faster. However, failing to exercise can have a negative impact on your ability to perform effectively and could be putting your health and your job in jeopardy.

During the work day, taking work exercise breaks, such as a brisk walk during a break or even taking an exercise class during a lunch break will help influence brain activity by making you feel more alert, better able to focus and cope with stress. Also, better cardiovascular health will reduce the risk of becoming injured on the job.

Today, most workers are becoming more and more sedentary, which increases worker risk of inactivity-related injuries and illness. Exercise has helped with flexibility, anger, depression, fatigue issues and overall mood. It helps to promote self-efficacy, relieves anxiety, depression and enhances energy. When you feel great about yourself, your mindset at work is bound to be optimistic, which increases job performance and career growth.

Benefits of Exercising on Work Performance

What are some of the correlations of increased work performance and exercising throughout the work day? Researchers have found many benefits of exercising and doing better at your job these include increased brain activity, less stress and less illness, causing the employee to be absent from work.

Increased Brain Activity-For increased brain activity, exercise should be paired with or precede complex motor or cognitive tasks to help build brain neurons and give them something to do after exercise. Activities like figure skating, rock-climbing, soccer, running, brisk walk or swimming help with doing regular desk duties including reviewing data reports or participating in a web conference. The key is to find ways to challenge your body and brain during the work day. One way that exercise can help boost productivity is by making you more alert. When you exercise, you are increasing blood flow to the brain, which helps sharpen awareness and ability to tackle the next project. It will help you feel more awake at work and perform to the best of your ability. If you don’t have time for a full cardio workout, walking during a lunch period or taking the stairs instead of the elevator will help stimulate blood flow to the brain.

Stress Reliever-Regular exercise will help you better deal with stress, which is common in the workplace. When you are able to deal with stress constructively, it can lead to improved relationships with co-workers and a more secure future with your employer.

Illness Prevention-Regular exercise including walking, running, weight lifting, swimming or jogging can reduce the risk of developing types of illness and disease. This means fewer sick days. Exercise reduces your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease, all of which can interfere with work productivity. Employees who are fit are also less likely to get hurt on the job, that those who are not. A fit and healthy employee is less likely to have an overexertion injury than one who is less fit. Fit workers will recover faster, require fewer days off and are less likely to need surgery, take extended health-related leaves or quit because of health-related reasons.

Early Results of a Steady Exercise Program

We wanted to check in with Mae Williams to see how she is doing with her exercise program and how it is helping her mentally, physically and at work. Mae has been doing the steady work out program at ASAP Fitness for twelve weeks. The biggest improvement she has noticed since starting exercising is little-to-no lower back or shoulder pain and more physical stamina. She is stronger, her balance is more aligned and she is feeling more confident.

Her trainer, Jacque, gives her different exercises that work various muscle groups. She shows Mae how to do things right and corrects her form while she is doing the exercises. Jacque also explains that it is important to understand your body’s hormones (or lack of) and how eating certain foods affect your energy, fat and muscles. Mae has also integrated body melting exercises for her tissues, this helps with stiffness and soreness.

Mae also exercises at home. For fluidity and flexibility, she does Tai Chi exercises in the morning, three times a week. She recommends the Tai Chi Paradigm DVD by Calvin Chin, which can be purchased at Men’s Cuts. Mae describes his exercises as calming and easily done at home. They are perfect for stiff sore joints.

Mae reflects that her wake-up call was finding out that a childhood friend had a hip replacement. “When it happens to someone you know who is close in age you start to think about the things you can do to avoid having to have surgery.” Mae’s friend sits a lot for her professional position and was not one to exercise. Anyone sitting at a computer for hours at a time will put a lot of strain on their hips. Mae also learned that all occupations can cause strain on various parts of the body through repetition of use. So, it is very important to recognize these bodily functions and do exercises and stretches specific to those areas that have to be strengthened to continue mobility & circulation. If you sit for a job you should do hip stretches, lower back, quad and core exercises to get the tissue, muscles, blood flow circulating so that stiffness and tightening do not occur. There is a book called the China Study written by M.I.T professors. The book talks about how the United States has more hip replacements than any other country because of our lifestyle. As a hair stylist, I have to strengthen core, lower back, shoulders, neck and stretch hamstrings and hip flexors. Mae wishes there was a tax deduction for exercise programs. She said, “We get reductions as a non-smoker, why not take it a step further and really give people an incentive to do something.”

People exercise for many different reasons, but you can’t force someone to work out if they don’t want to do it. Working out shouldn’t be a bother, it should be something that your body wants to do. Once you find the inspiration to have a regular workout routine, your body won’t “fight back at you” and it can actually be enjoyable. Exercising is very personal and each person receives different benefits from their workouts.

Exercise improves the mood- Physical activity stimulates certain brain chemicals that make you feel happier and more relaxed. Also, it helps you to feel better about your appearance, boost the confidence and improve self-esteem. Exercise releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter, which is a necessary trigger for happiness and pleasure.

Exercise boosts energy-Regular physical activity improves muscle strength and boosts endurance. It can help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently.

Exercise promotes better sleep.

Regular exercise can put the “spark” back into your sex life.

Exercise eases stress and anxiety levels-Exercise is considered a low level stress. When you work out regularly, your body will get a better handling on the rest of life’s stressors.

Exercise helps with cognitive function- Exercise helps boost energy and increase learning ability. Working out between the ages of 25 to 45 helps boost the chemicals in the brain that support and prevent degeneration of the hippocampus, an important part of the brain for memory and learning.

Exercise can increase creativity-It has been found that exercise can increase creative output for up to two hours after the work out session.

Exercise can help a worker be more productive-Research has shown that workers who take time for exercise on a regular basis during the work day have more energy and are more productive then the co-workers who are not exercising. (We will look into this aspect of exercising in a future blog post.)

Stretching and just slow moving helps to keep the tissue and nerves pliable and responsive. Doing exercises from Tai Chi and Body Melting allows the body’s tissues and nerves to be responsive and pliable. After age 45, we should be integrating strength, stretching and slow moving exercise and breathing from our diaphragm into our workout routine. It helps circulation and hydrates muscles that lay dormant from sitting all day at work.

Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more.

Overcoming Personal Exercising Challenges

As shown above, there are many great reasons for exercising, but don’t just take our word for it, Men’s Cuts owner, Mae Williams has had to overcome her own challenges to start exercising. She tells her story below:

We take for granted the things we can do, until our bodies give in. It is so easy not to do the right thing and to expect our bodies to be up and running whenever we feel. Over the past 15 years, I was what I would call “skating by”. I went to the gym because my husband would say, “You need to work out to feel better.” Like everyone else, I would say, “Ok try the Y, try some classes, join community rec center,” but I never got results. I just could not stay the course, stay motivated and I had the wrong form. I read magazine and knew what was good. But, actually applying myself was indeed the hardest. I would always find an excuse not to workout. I always wondered why some people got so excited about working out, I never got that high you get from working out.

Having teenagers who are fit and reminding me, “Mom, you need to work out,” did not motivate me. My husband could not motivate me either. I would look at magazines and see these sculpted bodies and just tell myself, well that is good for them, but that isn’t me. For years I got by being a small size and I guess I still am a small size at least that is what I am told. Anyone who is over 50 and a woman will tell you things shift and they shift in places no one else sees. Suddenly my body was shifting and my body was developing more bodily pain.

Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like doctors or pills. I eat fairly healthy. The body pain started after 50 and it was in my spine, in the lower spine. Then I started getting it in my shoulders, then my feet. I can attribute some of the pain from childbearing, not working out and having a weak core. Basically, not doing anything or being responsible for my own body. Yes, admitting to responsibility is tough. I had to decide for myself, not for anyone or anything else that I was going to commit to removing the pain, and owning up to my healthy self.

If men think it is hard to commit to a relationship, I parallel that feeling to working out. It is hard, it requires commitment, and you don’t always get high working out; but the long term effects of no pain far outweighs any drug. I have watched and see friends go into surgery for hips, knees and I do not want to go there. If my body falls apart outside of me being responsible, mentally, I know I did the very best.

People think exercising is expensive. Or you have to have a trainer. I think drugs, the side effects and the surgery is far more expensive, not to mention the time you can’t function because you than have to go to rehab.

WE all have to make decisions as to what is a priority. I have chosen to commit to making myself healthier so that I can have no pain in my spine, feet or shoulders. I also made the conscious choice to go to a gym that is 5 minutes from where I live. Convenience and being able to work out at a time that fits my work and lifestyle was important. I don’t have time to waste. I wanted results and someone who thoroughly understood my needs.

In November 2015, I started training at ASAP. I was anxious because I did not know what my mind and or body would do. Jacque Tolson, who I train with, has been incredible. I went in there just wanting to feel better because I know looking better would come later. The hardest part was walking into the door the first day and committing my mind and body to do something I was reluctant to do. I am no different than anyone who would prefer to do nothing.

I don’t expect to look buff or sculpted, all I want to be is the person who is healthier and stronger without pain. No drugs, no surgery and with a better sense of body awareness. I am getting the results and I love it.

So many of us lack body awareness, balance and resort to a quick fix like a pill. There is no magic pill getting better. So make yourself a priority, invest in you. Your body will thank you.